There's a place in the Stars

For when you get old.....

I was at a large home for the elderly today for work.  I am just reflecting on my day there.   I can still see the faces.  Some were sad.  Some were lonely.  Some had no expression at all, just sitting there waiting to die. There were a few that were active and seemed ok.  Most just seemed resigned to the fact they were losing their battle with life.  I wanted to reach out and give a lady a hug or touch a man on his arm and say "Hello, how are you?".  But I had to do my work.  I smiled alot but most of the time I tried not to make eye contact because I felt so sad inside for these poor people. I wanted to help them but there was nothing I could do.   These folks are angels and may god bless every one of them.  Most of them have few visitors, basically abandoned by their families.  So they sit there and watch TV or mindlessly stare out the window.  Maybe they dream of the days when they were young.  This is the way they end their lives. To live out your life like this is terrible.  I don't want to end up in some institution like this on my way to death.  The fact is though if you cant care for yourself and have no place else to go, this is where you end up.  It really made me think.  Is this what you have to look forward to?  But instead of worrying about myself, I am feeling compassion for those folks I saw today.  There's no way anyone can stop their aging. I sure wish god could give those folks some comfort in their last years, months, days.  Ease their pains, give some small joys and a little bit of happiness, they certainly deserve it.